Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-16
HAUNTED HER LOVER.
Bette Bailerd's Spirit Recalls Graveyard
Vow.

Bette Bailerd's Spirit Recalls Graveyard
Vow.
In the western part of this county, says
a letter from Harnodsburg, KY, is located
an old village by the name of Dancansville.
In this village and vicinity live plain and
industrious people, who vie one with an
other in acts Of kindness and hospitality.
Among these good people lives Rev. G.
W. Tully, than whom no better nor more
reliable gentleman can be found. Yester-
day he was at this place and gave your cor
respondent the details ola most marvellous
story, which We shall proceed to give as
nearly as possible in the language of the
narrator.
A young man named John C. Hoover,
of Duncansville, wooed and won the affec-
tions of Miss Bette Ballerd, a charming
and agreeable lady, living in the vicinity.
As he had worked for several years at a
sawmill, and had mastered the business,
he thought it best that he shonld 90 west
ward and try his fortunes in the lumber
regions So he determined to try st. Crolx
Falls, Wis. The day before he was to
leave for a stay of one year was spent in the
company OF his sffianced. II beingSunday
"A solemn day in the country-these two
lovers strayed to the country graveyard.
There, at the graves of their parents, they
promised to be forever true to each other.
In one year they were to be married, and
they promised, in the event one should die,
the other was bound to live in q state OF
celibscy. On this holy day, and upon the
tombs Of departed parents, they made this
solemn vow:
Now" said the young lady, 81 am
your wife, and if should die before your
return, my spirit will ever attend You"
Hoover left next morning and soon reach
ed his destination at the head of steamboat
navigation on the st. Croix river For ten
months not n wave OF trouble rolled across
his peaceful breast. One night after he
had been sleeping for several hours in his
room at the Peterson House, he was
awakened by breeze passing over him as
if made by q wing. On opening his eyes
he beheld an object in the room. BY the
dim light of the moon he discerned the
outlines of a woman. AS she advanced
with outstretched arms and an angelic
smile on her face he thought he recognized
his sweetheart. AS she threw her arms
about his neck she vanished into thin air.
He sprang from his bed, and, quickly
lighting lamp, he searched in vain, for
he found nothing. Sleep visited him no
more that night. In few days he received
letter informing him that his intended
bride, after a short illness, had passed into
the spirit land, having died on the very
night he had seen her apparition.
After working hard for two years his
business was 80 prosperous that he deter
mined TO visit the scenes Of his childhood.
While here he met Miss Catherine Larder
of Missouri. She was as handsome ~ his
old sweetheart, but not so large and fine
looking Again Cupid got in his work,
and they were soon engaged. On the
morning of June 81, 1897, they married,
and started Immediately for the husbands
home in Wisconsin.
In the course of time they arrived at st.
Croix Falls, and Mr.. Hoover conducted his
young wife to his apartments in the Peter
son House. The light had hardly been
extinguished when breeze was felt to pass
over the bed, and as he turned to face his
wife a cold hand touched his face, and a
scream from his wife was heartrending. As
the affrighted man rose from his bed to
light lamp he beheld an apparition Of his
old sweetheart fade from view, and OBJ
serve his wife lying beside the bed in
dead swOon.
A similar scene occurred every night for
at least two weeks. They left the hotel
and rented house near the river and set
up housekeeping. Here the apparition
appeared more frequently, 1t never failed
to separate the pair at night, and con-
stantly made its presence known TO the
wife during the day.
For nearly three weeks the spiritual
manifestations continued, when the virgin
bride would no longer remain with her
haunted husband, but returned 10 her
friends at Duncansville. The bright and
beautiful young lady, 30 joyous and happy
when married, was now carewOrn and
sad personage-a real object Of pity. She
told the story TO my informant, and !
have faithfully given 1t 10 your readers.